Buzzards Roster Grows with College Captains
October 4, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
El Paso Buzzards News Release
EL PASO, Texas â The El Paso Buzzards announced today the signing of forward Tom McMonagle and defenseman Mike Zeibaq for the 2002-2003 season. Both McMonagle and Zeibaq come to the Buzzards' team having served as captains of their respective college teams, Mercyhurst and Bentley, both NCAA Division I teams of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
McMonagle, 23, scored 114 points (56-58-114) in 116 collegiate games with Mercyhurst and captained the team to the MAAC regular season championship during the 2001-2002 season. At 5'09" and 180 lbs., McMonagle has explosive speed on the ice and played in all specialty team situations including the power play and the penalty kill. McMonagle is a native of Glenolden, Pennsylvania.
Zeibaq, 22, is the all-time penalty leader for Bentley College with 385 penalty minutes in 109 collegiate games. At 6'0" and 210 lbs., Zeibaq is a strong, physical defensive defenseman, which gives him presence on the ice. A native of Hauppauge, New York, Zeibaq's smart work ethic earned him Team MVP honors for Bentley during the 2000-2001 season.
"By bringing both Tom and Mike to our hockey club, I feel we have two rookies who are leaving four years of college with much maturity and leadership having finished their senior years as captains of their respective hockey clubs," said Buzzards' head coach and director of hockey operations Craig Coxe. "Tom brings a lot of speed and some very skilled playmaking abilities. Mike is a very solid defensive defenseman. He might not get fifty points, but he will be solid on the back end."
"In signing Tom McMonagle and Mike Zeibaq, Coach Coxe proves that he is committed to maintaining the Buzzards' tradition of developing young players," said Buzzards' general manager Robbie Nichols. "We look forward to seeing these talented young players at our first home game on Saturday, October 26th."
The signing of McMonagle and Zeibaq brings the Buzzards' 2002-2003 roster to thirteen players. McMonagle and Zeibaq join goalies Nathan Grobins and Matt Carmichael, forwards Joe Gray, Josh Tymchak, Jeremy Vokes, Derek Reynolds, and Derrell Upton as well as defensemen Aaron Boh, Rhett Dudley, Jason Tessier and Trevor Folk.
The El Paso Buzzards play in the professional Central Hockey League. The team is entering their seventh season of play in El Paso with a home opener on Saturday, October 26th as they take on the San Angelo Saints. Season ticket and sponsorship packages are available for the 2002-2003 season by calling the Buzzards' office at (915) 533-PUCK or by visiting www.elpasobuzzards.com.
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